A few weeks ago, I posted a thread about aggressive behavior with one of our white plymouth rocks. I have kept her seperated for 2 1/2 weeks and went to reintroduce her the girls she had been brutal to. Long story short....not only did I NOT return her, I added the other White Plymouth Rock to her cell in 'Cluckatraze'. Now both of them are far away from the 3 Buff Orps. I witessed Nuggett's new cell mate try to peck the eyes out of my biggest Buff, who is so dicile and sweet. Then Pattie attacked me hard. The littlest Buff had blood on her back right where her new feathers were growing back so I tended to her and did not find a wound, only a few more broken feathers. The middle Buff Edith just seems skiddish now, where she was not before. None of them have layed an egg since the seperation a few weeks back except the one that was removed. They others just sort of stopped. Weather had been unbearable. -19 degrees last Monday morning, and that's without the wind chill. They are all protected from the eliments so that is not the issue. There was a huge difference in the Buff's behavior when I removed the other Rock. They seemed to sort of relax, if you will. Margo, the biggest took to the oatmeal I brought them right away. She usually stayed back and just watched as the others would eat but not this time. Then, the others joined her and they all ate without any pecking at each other. Now when I went to put them up for the night, 2 of the Buffs are sleeping in the nesting boxes and one is outside in the run sleeping on the roost! There is a roost inside for them but now they don't seem to want it. I guess my question is this, is it ok for Margo to sleep outside on that roost during the night? The run is well made and protected with plastic sheeting to keep rain and snow out, but I am still uncomfortable with her spending the night out there. Any ideas???
